Britain ratifies EU Treaty

Britain has become the 19th European Union country to ratify the Lisbon Treaty without a referendum, after the EU Amendment Bill completed its passage through Parliament.

Eurosceptic members of the European Parliament display posters calling on the EU to respect the outcome of Ireland's recent votePhoto: AP

9:44PM BST 18 Jun 2008

A last-ditch Conservative attempt to delay ratification until the autumn was voted down in the House of Lords by a margin of 93, and peers later gave the Bill its third reading without a vote.

Royal Assent is expected to follow within 24 hours.

Parliamentary ratification came on the eve of an EU summit in Brussels expected to be dominated by Ireland's rejection of the Treaty in last week's referendum.

Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen is expected to ask for more time to consider his country's response to the No vote, which threatens to prevent next year's planned implementation of the Treaty's reforms, including a full-time EU president and foreign minister.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that the Treaty cannot come into force unless it is ratified in all 27 EU states.

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On his way to the Brussels summit on Thursday, he will hold talks in Paris with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who will inherit the headache over how to deal with the Irish vote when he takes over the EU's six-month rotating presidency in July,.

At Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons on Wednesday, Mr Brown brushed off a demand from Conservative leader David Cameron to accept that Ireland's verdict has killed off the Treaty, which replaces the constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.

"We respect the decision of the Irish. They have asked to have more time to discuss what their proposals will be to deal with this situation," Mr Brown told MPs.

"They have not suggested either that they wish to postpone the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty for other countries or that they wish to stall the whole process."

But Mr Cameron accused Mr Brown and other European leaders of trying to pressurise Dublin into a second referendum to reverse the result.

"Which part of 'no' doesn't the Prime Minister understand?" the Tory leader demanded.

"The Prime Minister says he doesn't want to bully Ireland, but doesn't he understand that continuing with the ratification process is doing precisely that?"

As the row escalated, the Opposition leader told Mr Brown: "I've seen more spine and leadership from a bunch of jellyfish.

"Why don't you give some leadership, tell us what you think and kill this Treaty today?"

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso today told the European Parliament that governments need time to regroup "but equally we should not take too long".

He urged those countries that have not yet ratified the Treaty to do so.

The Czech Republic suspended its own ratification process at least until the autumn, by sending the treaty to the Constitutional Court to determine whether it is in line with the country's constitution.

Britain has made it clear that it will oppose any attempt to move to a "two-speed" Europe, where some members go ahead with the Treaty while others, such as Ireland, are left behind.

Although Royal Assent completes the parliamentary process, the UK's ratification of the Treaty does not formally take place until the country's "instruments of ratification" are deposited in Rome, the venue of the 1957 Treaty which initially established the European Economic Community.

This is regarded as no more than a formality, and must take place before the end of December to uphold Britain's commitment to ratify the Treaty in 2008.

Spreadbetting millionaire Stuart Wheeler, who is awaiting a High Court decision on his application for a judicial review of the Government's refusal to hold a referendum on the Treaty, accused Mr Brown of "stifling democracy".

"The people of Ireland have spoken but our Prime Minister has chosen not to listen," said Mr Wheeler.

"Instead of taking on board the wishes of the only four million people in the EU allowed to have their say on the Lisbon Treaty, it seems he will ask the Queen to give Royal Assent to this Bill.

"Surely the Prime Minister could delay the ratification of this Treaty. If nothing else he could wait until the High Court has ruled whether his refusal to hand the British people a referendum was unlawful.

"The Government has one last chance to do the right thing - say they will not actually ratify the treaty without a referendum. Surely the people of Britain deserve this at the very least."

Several pro-referendum protesters were thrown out of the Lords public gallery after voicing their demands for a poll during this afternoon's debate.

Responding to Mr Wheeler's argument that ratification should be delayed until after the High Court ruling, a Foreign Office spokesman noted that the formal act of ratification did not take place until the instruments are deposited in Rome.

Mr Barroso thanked the UK government for it's "constant support" for the new Treaty - and he urged all other European member states who have yet to approve the document to continue the process despite Ireland's no-vote.

He issued a statement to mark approval by the 19th EU country to rectify the treaty.

He said: "I would like to congratulate the UK on the approval of the Treaty of Lisbon today. I would like to thank the government and parliament for the constant support for the new Treaty during the negotiation and ratification process".

He went on: "I believe the new Treaty will make the EU more effective, democratic and stronger on the global stage. The Treaty of Lisbon has now been approved by 19 member states.

"I believe it is important that all member states express their position on the Treaty, and I call on all of those that have not ratified the Treaty to continue the ratification process".